Betfred is looking to get a piece of the AZ sports betting market.
On Wednesday, Betfred Sports announced a partnership with the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort, owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.
Through the partnership, Betfred will seek a license for mobile sports betting in Arizona. They also plan a retail sportsbook for the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort in Scottsdale.
“Arizona is an amazing opportunity for Betfred Sports to continue its expansion in the US after successful launches in Iowa, Colorado and Pennsylvania,” Betfred Group COO Mark Stabbings said in a release. “We look forward to working with our fantastic partner, the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, to leverage our 50 years of bookmaking experience to bring the best betting options to Arizona sports fans.”
Sports betting in Arizona is on track to launch Sept. 9. Daily fantasy sports are still targeted for an Aug. 28 launch.
AZ sports betting license application period closed
The Arizona Department of Gaming finalized sports betting rules July 26, the same day it opened the license application process. The two-week period ended Aug. 9.
The ADG plans to notify qualified applicants Monday. There are 20 available sports betting licenses, 10 each for the state’s professional sports teams and gaming tribes.
According to the ADG, 10 sports teams and organizations and 15 tribes applied for sports betting licenses. If all of those are determined to be qualified applicants, the ADG will follow a set of guidelines to award the licenses.
Gov. Doug Ducey signed AZ sports betting legislation and updated tribal compacts in April.
Tribal partnerships filling up
With Wednesday’s announcement, there are now six announced tribal partnerships.
Under the new compacts, each tribal casino can operate retail sportsbooks. There are 24 casinos in the state operated by 16 tribes.
The announced tribal partnerships include:
- Colorado River Indian Tribes with BlueBet
- Quechan Tribe with Kindred Group
- San Carlos Apache Tribe with WynnBet
- Tonto Apache Tribe with TwinSpires
- Yavapai-Apache Nation with PointsBet
BetMGM has a joint partnership with the NFL‘s Arizona Cardinals and Gila River Hotels & Casinos.
Sports team partnerships as well
Team partnerships announced include:
- MLB’s Arizona Diamondbacks with Caesars Sportsbook
- NBA’s Phoenix Suns with FanDuel Sportsbook
- Phoenix Raceway with Barstool Sportsbook
- Waste Management Phoenix Open with DraftKings Sportsbook
- WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury with Bally’s Corp.
- Cardinals with BetMGM
The NHL‘s Arizona Coyotes have yet to announce an AZ sports betting partner. During stakeholder meetings, the USL‘s Phoenix Rising expressed interest in a license.
